🎯 New Brunswick Hunting Seasons 2026-2027 & License Requirements

New Brunswick’s 2026–27 hunting season brings notable changes to the wild turkey hunt, with the season extended to three weeks starting the first Monday of May in response to its growing popularity. A key policy shift allows New Brunswick-born active members of the Canadian Forces or RCMP living outside the province to apply for the resident wild turkey draw, while the non-resident license draw deadline moves to the last Friday of November in the year prior. Moose hunting remains a draw-only opportunity with a single province-wide season in late September, and deer seasons vary by Wildlife Management Unit, generally running from early October through late November for bows and late October through November for firearms. Hunters should also note the free NB Outdoors Card requirement and mandatory hunter education for those born on or after January 1, 1981.

New Brunswick’s hunting map is smaller than Saskatchewan’s or Ontario’s, but that does not mean the regulations are simple enough to ignore the map. The province is divided into 27 Wildlife Management Zones, with boundaries commonly following recognizable features such as roads, rivers, lakes and rail lines. Those zones were developed around differences in landscape and wildlife-management conditions, so the WMZ printed beside a license can matter when you are planning a hunt.

The draw system adds another piece to the puzzle. Resident moose, antlerless deer and wild turkey are among the opportunities handled through provincial draws, while non-resident moose and bear opportunities have their own licensing arrangements. Non-resident hunters should pay particular attention to the guide requirement: New Brunswick generally requires non-residents hunting game species covered by the Fish and Wildlife Act to be accompanied by a licensed guide, subject to specific exemptions. The calendar below is therefore more than a list of opening days—it is a starting point for checking the WMZ, license category, draw status and access requirements that apply to your hunt.

📅 Quick Reference Points

• ✔ Whitetail deer: archery runs from early September into mid-October; firearms (rifle and muzzleloader share one window) usually run mid-October through early December, depending on zone. Antlerless deer requires a draw.
• ✔ Moose: draw-only, five-day season September 22–26, 2026, open to rifle or archery.
• ✔ Black bear: spring (roughly April to mid-June) and fall (September–October) windows; the resident license includes two tags.
• ✔ Wild turkey: spring hunt opens the first Monday in May and now runs three weeks; youth aged 12 and up are welcome.
• ✔ Waterfowl: ducks and geese run from a September opener through January across two federal zones; non-toxic shot is mandatory.
• ✔ Small game: grouse and snowshoe hare open September 1, with the hare season stretching into March.
• ✔ No Sunday hunting in the province, and antlerless deer tags are resident-only.

🦌 Big Game Schedules

New Brunswick keeps its big game structure simple: deer for everyone, moose by draw, and a healthy bear population with generous tag limits. One quirk worth knowing—there’s no separate muzzleloader period here. Rifle and muzzleloader are folded into a single firearms season, so pick your platform and plan around one window.

There’s also the famous Grand Manan specialty archery hunt (WMZ 27), a bow-only window running October 5–25, 2026. Successful antlerless-draw archers on the island can buy a second license for an antlered deer in any open zone—a nice reward for putting in the work GNB Grand Manan.

🦃 Turkey Schedules

Turkey hunting is still young in the province—the annual season launched in 2021 to manage a growing population—and it keeps expanding. As of spring 2026 it runs a full three weeks starting the first Monday in May, so mark May 4–24, 2026 on the calendar GNB News.

🦝 Furbearer Season Dates

Fur harvesting follows the Fur Harvesting Regulation (NB Reg 84-124), and seasons are set per zone, so the table below shows the standard statewide windows. Raccoon and coyote are the headliners here—the province even runs a raccoon-with-hounds season that starts in August.

Harvesters need a fur harvester’s license (minors 10+ can hold one), a rabbit license, or the right minor’s license, plus specific authorizations for bobcat and hound work.

🐦 Small Games Dates

For casual days in the woods, small game is where the province shines. “Partridge” in local talk means ruffed grouse, and the mixed-wood hills are full of them.

🦆 Complete Waterfowl Seasons

Waterfowl is a two-layer puzzle: federal rules from Environment and Climate Change Canada on top of provincial licensing. You’ll need the federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit plus the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp, and only non-toxic shot is permitted (woodcock excepted). The windows below follow the most recent published federal summary—the 2026–27 version lands in late summer, and the early goose opener below has been a reliable constant ECCC New Brunswick.

Wetland zones matter here: closed areas include the Tabusintac River estuary, most of Bathurst Basin, and the Dalhousie shoreline strip, plus The Wolves in the Bay of Fundy. Youth waterfowl permits are free through the federal e-permitting system, and junior hunters can carry their own bag under a mentor.

🐗 Other Available Game

Beyond the headline species, a Varmint license (resident $14, non-resident $32) opens the door to crows, cormorants and similar species—handy for spring practice or farm pest control. The province keeps things simple: there are no dove, sandhill crane or frog seasons here, so don’t plan for them.

🗺️ Zones Active for Hunting

The whole province is carved into 27 wildlife management zones (WMZs), and almost every season—deer firearms, furbearer snares, turkey fall hunts—varies by zone. The official wildlife map lives on the provincial Go Hunting portal, which also hosts the tentative season-dates PDF for the coming year GNB Go Hunting. Two rules of thumb: Crown land is open to hunting unless posted, and private land always needs the owner’s permission. When in doubt, ask—landowners across the province are usually happy to talk.

🎟️ Licenses, Tags & Permits

Licenses are sold through the provincial e-licensing system, and bundles save real money if you chase more than one species. Prices below include HST and current for 2026 GNB Available Licenses.

A few extras to budget for:

• Federal waterfowl package: Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit + Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp (free for youth).
• Bow and crossbow users must complete a stand-alone Bow Hunter Education course or show a previous bow license.
• Non-residents generally must use a licensed outfitter or guide to pursue moose and bear in the province.
• Seniors (65+) get roughly half off most resident licenses, and there are designated licenses and military/RCMP pathways worth asking about.

❓ New Brunswick (Canada) Hunting Quick FAQ

1. Do I need a draw to hunt moose?

Yes—moose is strictly draw-based. For 2026, applications closed June 12, results posted July 6, and the hunt runs September 22–26.

2. Can non-residents hunt deer?

They can. The Class 1 license ($183) covers antlered deer in open zones. The antlerless deer draw, however, is residents-only.

3. Is a guide mandatory for visitors?

For moose and bear, yes—non-residents are generally required to use a licensed outfitter or guide. Deer and bird hunting don’t carry that requirement.

4. Are there youth opportunities?

Plenty. Minors 12–15 get a free bird & small game license, youth 12+ can join the spring turkey hunt, and the federal youth waterfowl permit is free with a mentor.

5. When is turkey season?

Spring turkey opens the first Monday in May for three weeks—May 4–24 in 2026. A fall component also exists in some zones.

6. What do I need for waterfowl?

A federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit, the habitat conservation stamp, a provincial license, and non-toxic shot.

7. Where am I allowed to hunt?

Any open WMZ on Crown land unless posted, or on private land with permission. Check the official map before every trip.

🔗 List of Related Guides

• New Brunswick (Canada) Hunting Guide – Complete Season Overview
• Ontario Hunting Seasons – Dates, Zones & Licenses

And if you’re planning a trip around the Bay of Fundy, our Nova Scotia hunting guide covers the other shore.

Conclusion

New Brunswick’s 2026–2027 game calendar rewards people who plan ahead: moose draws close in June, bear and turkey windows sell out in spring, and waterfowl paperwork takes five minutes online. Lock in your licenses early, confirm your zone’s exact dates as final summaries drop, and respect landowner boundaries—do that and you’ll have a season worth telling stories about. Bookmark this page, and check back each fall for updated schedules. Now go scout that ridge.

Disclaimer: Dates and limits below come from official summaries published for the 2025–2026 season and confirmed 2026 draw windows. Always verify current dates with the Government of New Brunswick’s Fish & Wildlife branch and Environment and Climate Change Canada before you buy tags.

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Alex Martin

Hunting Information & Research Writer at CanadaHunting.org

Alex Martin is a writer and researcher for CanadaHunting.org, covering Canadian hunting seasons, regulations, licenses, permits, hunting zones, species information, and practical hunting resources. His work focuses on researching provincial, territorial, and federal hunting information and presenting it in clear, useful language for hunters across Canada.

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